桃子视频

It鈥檚 no secret that Americans are facing an affordability crisis. In the weeks leading up to the midterms, voters are inundated with political ads recognizing that Americans are working harder, paying more and getting less. Housing, health care, groceries, utilities and other necessities continue to eat up family budgets and show no signs of stopping. For millions of people, the basic promise that hard work should make it possible to build a good life feels increasingly out of reach. Meanwhile, the richest 10% hold 67% of all the country鈥檚 wealth.

Voters are asking: If our elected leaders know how much Americans are struggling, why aren鈥檛 they doing more about it?

The answer is that our political system is designed to work for corporations and individuals getting richer at everyone else鈥檚 expense. And voters have noticed that the economy predominately works for those who have all the resources to sway politicians and elections. If we want to unrig the economy to address the people鈥檚 needs, we need to unrig our politics to allow ordinary people to take the driver鈥檚 seat.

The wealthiest pay lower tax rates than people who don鈥檛 have enough money for a full tank of gas. Meanwhile, politicians grow increasingly unaccountable to the people who elected them. Instead of solving problems for us, politicians entrench their own power, manipulate ballot access and sideline communities that don’t fit their vision of America.

Some executive branch officials and Congressmembers wield government power and taxpayer dollars to enrich their families and friends and punish opponents. They鈥檙e using prosecutions and investigations to silence individuals, organizations, and journalists. For playing ball, corporations get a nearly unfettered ability to price gouge, form monopolies, pollute our neighborhoods and abuse the trust and pocketbooks of American consumers with no meaningful oversight.

Voters across the political spectrum see through this game. They see a system rigged to insulate politicians from democratic accountability 鈥� to prevent voters from electing the government we want and holding its feet to the fire.

New research the 桃子视频conducted with the Global Strategy Group found that nearly half of voters across party lines agree: One of the biggest barriers to addressing the skyrocketing cost of living is out-of-touch, corrupt politicians who refuse to tackle costs for fear of alienating corporate benefactors. In fact, voters identified holding corrupt politicians accountable as the single policy that would do the most to improve affordability.

Moreover, a new Fox News poll revealed that of registered voters are extremely concerned about government corruption. A swing voter from Utah responded to our survey saying, 鈥淪pecial interest groups, wealthy people and businesses can spend millions to buy a spot at the table and a voice in decision-making, while we have people who can’t afford meals, housing or healthcare.鈥�

And a Republican voter in Pennsylvania put it more plainly, 鈥淲hen the wealthy, lobbyists or corporations have greater access to influence politicians, it makes it more challenging to trust that the voice of the common person matters.鈥�

If we want an economy that works for ordinary people, we need a government that works for all people. This cycle, voters have the opportunity to put the wheels in motion.

At the ACLU, our loyalty is to the Constitution, not to any political party or candidate. For more than a century, we have defended the principle that the government derives its authority from the people and must remain accountable to them. That principle is under extraordinary strain today.

We can endlessly debate about the best policies to lower costs, but that鈥檚 not the work of the ACLU. However, the foundation is the same: To tackle the affordability crisis, we need to tackle the accountability crisis.

For a start, end partisan gerrymandering and protect the freedom to vote so that politicians must answer to voters. Stop governments and companies from tracking our license plates, faces, and search histories so that they can manipulate and control us. Give us real accountability by letting people sue government agents and agencies who violate their rights.

What most Americans want is simple. They want the freedom to find a good job, afford a home, raise a family, make their own decisions and build a secure life. A functioning representative democracy does not guarantee any particular policy outcome, but it does guarantee that the people making decisions have to answer to the people living with the consequences.

The 桃子视频holds fast to the promise of a democracy that is truly of, by, and for the people. That promise is not abstract. It determines who the government listens to, whose interests it protects and whether average Americans have the power to demand change.

The economy we get is downstream of the government we have. If we want to unrig the economy, we have to unrig our democracy.